Shloka 32

Devanagari script

धृतराष्ट उवाच तस्मिन्नस्त्रे प्रतिहते द्रोणे चोपधिना हते । तथा दुर्योधनेनोक्तो द्रौणि: किमकरोत्‌ पुन:

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca tasminn astre pratihate droṇe copadhinā hate | tathā duryodhanenokto drauṇiḥ kim akarot punaḥ ||

Translation

ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ—ସେଇ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର ପ୍ରତିହତ ହେଲା ଏବଂ ଦ୍ରୋଣ ମଧ୍ୟ ଉପାୟରେ ହତ ହେଲେ; ତେବେ ଦୁର୍ଯ୍ୟୋଧନ ଏପରି କହିବା ପରେ ଦ୍ରୋଣପୁତ୍ର ଅଶ୍ୱତ୍ଥାମା ପୁଣି କ’ଣ କଲା?

Word by Word

• धृतराष्ट्रः: Dhritarashtra
• धृतराष्ट्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृतराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तस्मिन्: in/when that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अस्त्रे: weapon (missile)
• अस्त्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• प्रतिहते: having been countered/repelled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिहत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• द्रोणे: in/when Drona
• द्रोणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• उपधिना: by deceit/stratagem
• उपधिना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपधि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• हते: having been slain
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तथा: thus/so
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• दुर्योधनेन: by Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• उक्तः: addressed/told
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्रौणिः: Drona's son (Ashvatthaman)
• द्रौणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अकरोत्: did
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पुनः: again/then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Droṇa
• Duryodhana
• Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā)
• astra (weapon/missile)
• upadhi (stratagem)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the moral tension of war: even when martial power (astra) is neutralized, outcomes may hinge on upāya/upadhi (strategem). It invites reflection on how adharma-like means used in crisis can provoke further escalation and retaliation, shaping the ethical fallout of the conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks Sañjaya to continue the account: after a key weapon is countered and Droṇa is killed through a ruse, Duryodhana addresses Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son). The king wants to know what Aśvatthāmā did next in response.